Cushioned Packaging System

ABSTRACT

Providing a cushioned form of transport, a box is fixedly lined with a bubble-type wrap. For added cushioning, a good can be wrapped in bubble-type wrap as well. Extra thick bubble-type wrap, or several layers of bubble-type wrap, can line the central portions of each interior side of the box. Upon impact, the bubble-type wrap initially provides cushioning for the good. If an impact is severe enough, the bubble-type wrap will actually compress and collapse, absorbing the impact so that the good remains undamaged.

CONTINUITY DATA

This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. Patent Application No. 60/630,191 filed on Nov. 22, 2004, and priority is claimed thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to packaging that has cushioning to prevent damage to goods contained therein. More particularly, the present invention is a structurally resilient box with an integrated interior that has bubble-type wrap lining all surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The backbone of any shipping industry is the packaging employed to protect goods. If the goods shipped are not sufficiently isolated from the bangs, drops, temperature, and the like, then the packaging fails, and so will the shipping industry associated therewith.

Some packaging is designed to control the temperature of goods therein, while other packaging is designed to control the humidity within the packaging. For example, some packaging is insulated so that lobsters remain in a fresh state, while other packaging includes compounds that remove moisture from the interior of packaging. Still further, a plethora of inventions are directly concerned with isolating packaged goods so that the outside environment cannot jar or disturb fragile goods therein.

U.S. Patent Publication Number US2003/0006162A1 published on Jan. 9, 2003, invented by Smith, shows an inflatable box that can be made in any shape or size. Smith's device is essentially a box with an inflatable cushion covering the inside walls and the bottom of the box. A valve, in Smith's device, connects the outside of the box through a hollow lumen to the inside of the cushion allowing air to pass through from the outside of the box to the inside of the cushion. Unlike the present invention, Smith's device is not a one step packaging system for properly cushioning contents. Rather, Smith's device, unlike the present invention, calls for first placing an article within the packaging, and then second, inflating the cushion. Unlike the present invention, Smith's device is time consuming and not a simple packaging solution for even the most novice users.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,440 issued to Cliff on Aug. 29, 2000, describes a decorative padded gift mailer. While Cliff's device certainly is padded inside, it is essentially a flexible envelope; and thus, unlike the present invention, Cliff's device does not provide any structural support together with interior padding. Unlike the present invention, Cliff's device does not provide any protection from a hard hit to the packaging, and in fact, a good transported via Cliff's device would most likely be damaged if pressure were applied to the packaging, unlike the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,216 issued to Warner on Apr. 14, 1998, shows an adjustable and reusable protective packaging system with a plurality of interlocking cushioned clamps. Unlike the present invention, the plurality of interlocking cushioned clamps are fit within a box and are not permanently fixed to the box. Further, unlike the present invention, Warner's device is not a one step packaging system for properly cushioning contents; but rather, unlike the present invention, Warner's device calls for first placing the interlocking cushioned clamps within the packaging, and then second, placing the good to be shipped within the interlocking cushions. Unlike the present invention, Warner's device is time consuming and not a simple packaging solution.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,312 issued to Pivert et al. on Nov. 13, 1990, describes an inflatable cushion packaging that inflates via an outside valve so cushion the contents of a box. Unlike the present invention, Pivert et al.'s device is not a one step packaging system for properly cushioning contents. Rather, Pivert et al.'s device, unlike the present invention, calls for first placing an article within the packaging, and then second, inflating cushions. Unlike the present invention, Pivert et al.'s device is time consuming and not a simple packaging solution.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,874 issued to O'Neil on Feb. 25, 1975, shows a method for making a padded envelope. O'Neils's method concerns making a padded flexible envelope by continuously advancing a preprinted envelope blank in one direction while a patch of foamed plastic material is adhered, substantially covering the envelope pocket. While O'Neil's device certainly is padded inside, it is essentially a flexible envelope; and thus, unlike the present invention, O'Neil's device does not provide any structural support together with interior padding. Unlike the present invention, O'Neil's device does not provide any protection from a hard hit to the packaging, and in fact, a good transported via O'Neil's device would most likely be damaged if pressure were applied to the packaging, unlike the present invention.

All of the aforementioned devices fail to successfully ship very fragile goods. Quite simply, there is a need for a structurally strong packaging system to guard against sudden hits. There is also a need for a packaging system with a cushioning surface that is impact absorbent, but such cushioning surface needs to be collapsible if an impact become too great—so that the packaged good does not absorb a sudden hit, but rather, the cushioning surface literally is destroyed by the sudden impact to save the good. Further, there is a need for a cushioning surface such that fixedly attached to a structurally strong part of the packaging system; thus, the cushioning system will not accelerate and decelerate against the structurally strong part of the packaging system. Also, there is a need for a packaging system that is available to users without requiring the users to assemble inserts and the like for simplicity and time savings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a structurally resilient box or similar structurally resilient shape that is fixed lined with bubble-type wrap. Certain surfaces of the structurally resilient box or similar structurally resilient shape can be lined with more than one layer of bubble-type wrap to provide extra cushioning at recognized typical high impact points.

The bubble-type wrap lines the entire inside surface of a structurally resilient box or similar structurally resilient shape, so that no matter where a packaged good might contact the present invention, the bubble-type wrap is a barrier between the structurally resilient box or similar structurally resilient shape. It is important that the packaged good never contact the structurally resilient box or similar resilient shape, for such an impact would most likely damage a packaged good.

A bubble-type wrap covering or sleeve is also provided for placing around the packaged good. The bubble-type wrap covering or sleeve also provides extra cushioning so that not only is the structurally resilient box or similar structurally resilient shape cushioned, but so is the actual good being shipped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an environmental perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an environmental perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention has a structurally resilient box (10) that is covered with bubble-type wrap lining (20). Note that the bubble-type wrap lining (20) completely covers the structurally resilient box (10). The shape of the structurally resilient box (10) is not crucial, and moreover, the structurally resilient box (10) can be of any shaped desired by the user—so long as its structural integrity is maintained. Thus, so long as the structurally resilient box (10) is made of any conventionally hard material and of a thickness resistant to easy tearing, it will suffice for the present invention.

The bubble-type wrap lining (20) can be of any conventional size and thickness; one purpose of the bubble-type wrap lining (20) is to provide a cushioned surface on the interior of structurally resilient box (10). The reasoning is that if the present invention is jostled during shipping—or even dropped—a packaged good (30) will not slam against the structurally resilient box (10); rather, the bubble-type wrap lining (20) will receive the packaged good (30) and cushion the blow that the structurally resilient box (10) would deliver to the packaged good undamaged (30).

Recognizing that certain areas of the structurally resilient box (10) are more susceptible to receiving hits, impressions, jostles, and intrusions, the present invention also provides for a bubble-type lining (20) to be either extra thick and/or multilayered. For example, the sides (40) of structurally resilient box (10) will typically and undesirably be hit against objects during shipping, just as the bottom (50) or top (60) of structurally resilient box (10) will most likely be hit against objects during shipping. A first region (100) of bubble-type lining (20) on the sides (40), bottom (50), and/or top (60) of resilient box (10) can be extra thick and/or multilayered to guard against more severe hits.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, first region (100) of bubble-type lining (20) of structurally resilient box (10) is of a circular pattern. The circular pattern of first region (100) recognizes that, in the event of an impact against structurally resilient box (10), packaged good (30) will either directly contact the sides (40), bottom (50), or top (60) of resilient box (10) or hit an inside corner (70) of structurally resilient box (10). If an inside corner (70) is hit, then that is actually packaged good (30) hitting two sides (40) and either bottom (50) or top (60) of structurally resilient box (10). Thus, the circular pattern of first region (100) follows because any inside corner (70) of structurally resilient box (10) will never impart an impact directly to packaged good (30); but rather, packaged good (30) will actually receive any impact in such case from two of the sides (40) and either the bottom (50) or the top (60) of structurally resilient box (10). In short, the circular pattern of first region (100) is sufficient because the inside corners (70) will not touch packaged good (30).

In addition, the present invention provides good wrapping (35) that is preferably the same material as bubble-type wrap lining (20). Good wrapping (35) is preferably a sleeve that surrounds packaged good (30) as an extra layer of cushioning.

The present invention has, thus, two main layers of cushioning that work in concert to protect packaged good (30) from damage. A first layer is bubble-type wrap lining (20), and a second layer is good wrapping (35). Packaged good (30) is cushioned, first and foremost, because it is in direct contact with good wrapping (35). Packaged good (30) is secondly cushioned because resilient box (10) is lined with bubble-type wrap lining (20), and so any impact with resilient box (10) is actually an impact with bubble-type wrap lining (20).

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but has all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A cushioned packaging system, comprising: a box, having interior sides; a first layer bubble-type wrap lining, on the interior of said box; a second layer bubble-type wrap lining, surrounding a good being transported, said good lining freely moveable within said box.
 2. The cushioned packaging system of claim 1 wherein said first layer bubble-type wrap lining is fixedly mounted on the interior sides of said box.
 3. The cushioned packaging system of claim 1, wherein said first-layer bubble-type wrap lining is on at least one of the interior sides of said box.
 4. The cushioned packaging system of claim 1 wherein said first layer bubble-type wrap lining is configured to be reinforced at the center of at least one of the interior sides of said box.
 5. A cushioned packaging system, comprising: a box, having interior sides; and a first layer bubble-type wrap lining, on the interior of said box.
 6. The cushioned packaging system of claim 5 wherein said first layer bubble-type wrap lining is fixedly mounted on said interior sides of said box.
 7. The cushioned packaging system of claim 5, wherein said first-layer bubble-type wrap lining is on at least one of said interior sides of said box.
 8. The cushioned packaging system of claim 5 wherein said first layer bubble-type wrap lining is configured to be reinforced at the center of at least one of said interior sides of said box. 